Cartridge-based in-bore infuser

ABSTRACT

A fluid delivery device includes: a fluid-filled cartridge comprising an outlet; a syringe comprising a substantially cylindrical syringe barrel having an open end and a fluid dispensing end; and a plunger rod configured to be received within the open end of the syringe barrel. The plunger rod comprises: a first end having a sealing member provided in sealing engagement with an inner wall of the syringe barrel such that a first syringe chamber is provided between the first end of the plunger rod and the fluid dispensing end of the syringe barrel; a second end extending out of the open end of the syringe barrel and having a cartridge-receiving chamber having a connection mechanism positioned therein for connecting the outlet of the cartridge thereto. The plunger rod also includes a fluid channel extending from the connection mechanism to the first end of the plunger rod.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This Application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.14/904,888, filed on Jan. 16, 2016, which is a 371 national phaseapplication of PCT International Application No. PCT/US2014/046618,filed Jul. 15, 2014, and designating the United States of America, whichclaims the benefit from the earlier filed U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 61/847,323, filed Jul. 17, 2013, entitled “Cartridge-Based In-Boreinfuser,” and is hereby incorporated into this application by referenceas if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to devices, systems, and methodsfor delivery of a fluid, and, particularly, for infusion or injection ofa fluid contained in a cartridge, such as a syringe, vial, or othersuitable fluid delivery device, into a patient.

Description of Related Art

A number of injector-actuated syringes and powered injectors for use inmedical procedures such as angiography, computed tomography (CT),ultrasound, and NMR/MRI have been developed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,006,736,for example, discloses an injector and syringe for injecting fluid intothe vascular system of a human being or an animal. Typically, suchinjectors comprise drive members, such as pistons, that connect to asyringe plunger. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,677,980, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference, discloses an angiographicinjector and syringe wherein the drive member of the injector can beconnected to, or disconnected from, the syringe plunger at any pointalong the travel path of the plunger via a releasable mechanism. Afront-loading syringe and injector system is also disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 5,383,858, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

Although significant advances have been made in the design and operationof powered injectors, a number of problems persist which can limit theiruse. For example, each year in the United States several million MRIprocedures are performed. However, powered injectors are used in only arelatively small percentage of such procedures. In MRI procedures inwhich there is no need to accurately control the timing of contrastinjection or the flow rate of injection, powered injectors are almostnever used. In that regard, MRI procedures are relatively expensive andpatient throughput is a primary concern. It is perceived that use ofpowered injectors in such procedures will require additional time, whileproviding little benefit. Thus, in contrast-enhanced procedure in whichtiming and flow rate control are not important, contrast is currentlyinjected manually. Typically, the patient is placed in the MRI bore anda baseline scan is performed. The patient is then removed from the boreof the imaging device and the contrast is injected. The patient is thenonce again placed in the bore and the contrast-enhanced imaging isperformed.

A number of problems often arise with the manual injection of contrastin an MRI procedure. For example, after injection it is often difficultto reposition the patient in the same position in which the baselinemeasurement was made. Even if repositioning can be achieved withsuccess, removal of the patient from the bore to manually injectcontrast and subsequent repositioning require a substantial amount oftime. Moreover, in some instances, particularly with claustrophobicpatients, the patient refuses to reenter the bore. Furthermore, it issometimes difficult with some patients to properly inject the contrastmanually. In such cases, it may become necessary to call for theservices of an IV specialist team, greatly increasing the amount of timerequired for the scan.

Even in imaging procedures other than MRI procedures (such as CT,angiography, and ultrasound), there may be reluctance to use poweredinjectors in certain procedures because of perceived or actual burdenswith such use.

For the above reasons and others, it is desirable to develop improveddevices, systems, and methods for the injection of fluids into patients.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention described hereinafter is to provide aninjection device that is readily fabricated to be fully in-borecompatible for MR procedures. A further object is to provide aninjection device that can, for example, be applied to a patient outsidethe scanning room such that there is no need to remove a patient fromthe scanner bore to perform an injection. An additional object is tokeep the time required for set up of the devices described hereinafterminimal.

According to one aspect of the invention, a fluid delivery deviceincludes: a fluid-filled cartridge comprising an outlet; a syringecomprising a substantially cylindrical syringe barrel having an open endand a fluid dispensing end; and a plunger rod configured to be receivedwithin the open end of the syringe barrel. The plunger rod comprises: afirst end having a sealing member provided in sealing engagement with aninner wall of the syringe barrel such that a first syringe chamber isprovided between the first end of the plunger rod and the fluiddispensing end of the syringe barrel; a second end extending out of theopen end of the syringe barrel and having a cartridge-receiving chamberhaving a connection mechanism positioned therein for connecting theoutlet of the cartridge thereto; and an intermediate sealing member insealing engagement with the inner wall of the syringe barrel. Theintermediate sealing member is positioned between the first end and thesecond end of the plunger rod such that a second syringe chamber isprovided between the intermediate sealing member and the first end ofthe plunger rod. The plunger rod also includes a fluid channel extendingfrom the connection mechanism to the first end of the plunger rod; and aone-way check valve positioned at the first end of the plunger rod. Thefluid delivery device also includes an actuator connected to the fluiddispensing end of the syringe barrel. Fluid is dispensed from thecartridge by connecting the outlet of the cartridge to the connectionmechanism, thereby providing the cartridge in fluid communication withfluid channel, forming a vacuum within the second syringe chamber bypulling the second end of the plunger rod away from the open end of thesyringe barrel, thereby drawing fluid from the cartridge through thefluid channel and into the first syringe chamber, and switching theactuator from a first state in which fluid is prevented from flowingthrough the fluid dispensing end of the syringe to a second state toallow the fluid to flow through the fluid dispensing end.

In one embodiment, the fluid delivery device may be provided as aprepackaged system that is autoclaved sterilized. In such an embodiment,the fluid-filled cartridge may be a vial and the connection mechanismmay be a spike. The vial may be positioned within the cartridgereceiving chamber and a flexible seal may be positioned over the secondend of the plunger rod. In use, the vial is engaged with a spike bypressing the flexible seal.

In an alternative embodiment, the fluid-filled cartridge may be asyringe and the connection mechanism may be a female luer connector.

The first syringe chamber may have a first diameter and the secondsyringe chamber may have a second diameter that is greater than thefirst diameter. In addition, a mechanism of the actuator may include arotary valve, a pinch valve with tubing, a ratchet valve, a fusiblelink, a trumpet valve, a port closing valve, a pump system, or a drivesystem. The fluid delivery device may further include a controllerconfigured to remotely control the state of the actuator. The controllermay be configured to control the state of the actuator via ultrasound,via a protocol of an imaging scanner, via microwave energy, via amechanical link, via infrared light, via fiber optic cable, viapneumatic power, via hydraulic power, via voice activation, via movementof a scanner table, via time delay, via an RF gradient trigger from ascanner, via a photo cell, via optical light, via an RF signal, or vialine power.

The fluid-filled cartridge, the syringe, the plunger rod, and theactuator may be configured to be MR compatible, thereby making thedevice suitable for use in or near a bore of an MR scanner.

According to another aspect of the invention, a fluid delivery deviceincludes a syringe comprising: a substantially cylindrical syringebarrel having a fluid dispensing end and an open end; and a plungerconfigured to be received within the open end of the syringe barrel; adrive mechanism comprising a substantially cylindrical body having amovable member positioned therein to form a chamber between the movablemember and a substantially closed first end of the cylindrical body; aplunger rod connected to a first side of the movable member andextending through the substantially closed first end of the body, theplunger rod configured to operatively engage the plunger; and a lockingmechanism configured to secure the open end of the syringe to thesubstantially closed first end of the body; and an actuator connected tothe fluid dispensing end of the syringe barrel. Fluid is dispensed fromthe syringe by connecting the syringe to the plunger rod, forcing theopen end of the syringe into the locking mechanism thereby moving themovable member towards a second end of the cylindrical body which formsa vacuum within the chamber, and switching the actuator from a firststate in which fluid is prevented from flowing through the fluiddispensing end of the syringe to a second state to allow the fluid toflow through the fluid dispensing end.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a fluid deliverydevice comprises: a fluid-filled cartridge comprising an outlet; a fluidcontainer having a fluid receiving end; a connection mechanism extendingfrom the fluid receiving end of the fluid container and comprising afluid path extending from a first end of the connection mechanism to asecond end of the connection mechanism in fluid communication with thefluid receiving end of the fluid container; a compressible memberextending from the outlet of the fluid-filled cartridge to the fluidreceiving end of the fluid container and surrounding the connectionmechanism; and a removable retention mechanism positioned between theoutlet of the fluid-filled cartridge and the fluid receiving end of thefluid container over the compressible member to prevent the outlet ofthe fluid-filled cartridge from contacting the connection mechanism.Fluid is transferred from the fluid-filled cartridge to the fluidcontainer by removing the removable retention mechanism and compressingthe compressible member such that the outlet of the cartridge isconnected to the connection mechanism, thereby providing the cartridgein fluid communication with the fluid path extending from the first endof the connection mechanism to the second end of the connectionmechanism in fluid communication with the fluid receiving end of thefluid container.

These and other features and characteristics of the device of thepresent disclosure, as well as the methods of operation and functions ofthe related elements of structures and the combination of parts andeconomies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon considerationof the following description and the appended claims with reference tothe accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of thisspecification, wherein like reference numerals designate correspondingparts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however,that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and descriptiononly and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the device ofthe present disclosure. As used in the specification and the claims, thesingular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unlessthe context clearly dictates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a fluid delivery device of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 2A-2C are a series of cross-sectional views of a first embodimentof the fluid delivery device of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are a series of cross-sectional views of a secondembodiment of the fluid delivery device of the present invention; and

FIGS. 4A-4C are a series of cross-sectional views of a third embodimentof the fluid delivery device of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “upper”, “lower”,“right”, “left”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “lateral”,“longitudinal”, and derivatives thereof, shall relate to the device ofthe present disclosure as it is oriented in the drawing figures.However, it is to be understood that the device of the presentdisclosure may assume various alternative variations, except whereexpressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood thatthe specific devices illustrated in the attached drawings, and describedin the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of thedevice of the present disclosure. Hence, specific dimensions and otherphysical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein arenot to be considered as limiting.

In general, the present invention provides infusion or injection devicesand systems that are relatively easy to operate. The injection devicesdisclosed herein are related to the injection devices disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 7,632,245 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/826,483,which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1 , aninjection or infusion device 10 includes a fluid-filled cartridge 40(for example, a vial, a prefilled syringe, or another suitable fluiddelivery device) in which a fluid for injection into a patient isstored. Injection device 10 includes an outlet 30 in fluid connectionwith a syringe and plunger rod combination 20 and through which fluidexits the syringe to be injected into the patient. Injection device 10also includes the syringe and plunger rod combination 20 through whichforce/pressure, via a vacuum, is applied to the fluid that is drawn fromthe fluid-filled cartridge 40 into a portion of the syringe to cause thepressurized fluid to exit outlet 30. Injection device 10 furtherincludes an actuator 50 to initiate (and, possibly, terminate) flow.Actuator 50 can, for example, be operated by a controller 70 via aremote controller 71 from, for example, control room 90.

The actuator 50 can, for example, include a rotary valve at a syringetip, a pinch valve with tubing, a ratchet valve, a fusible link, atrumpet valve, a port closing valve, a pump system, or a drive system toallow fluid to flow through outlet 30. The mechanism for operating theactuator 50 (or imparting motion thereto to change a state) can, forexample, include a vacuum drive, a piezoelectric drive, an electricmotor drive (for example, an inside-MRI bore air core motor in which themagnet of the bore forms part of the motor), a solenoid drive, anelectric motor drive outside of the bore, an electro-resistive pump, acharged ion pump (available, for example, from Exigent), a magnetorestrictive material (to which a voltage is applied), a thermochemicalactivated motion (TCAM) material or device, a nitinol material, a statetransition (liquid to gas), a bi-metallic material (with different ratesof expansion for each metal), an electro-active polymeric material,pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, and/or gravity. Power can be suppliedvia, for example, vacuum power, chemical power, electrical power (forexample, battery power, wall outlet power), power from the scanner,human/manual power, compressed or pressurized gas (for example, CO₂ orair) power, hydraulic power, spring power, gravity power, orlight/photoelectric power. In the embodiments described hereinafter, theactuator 50 is desirably a normally-closed valve.

The controller 70 can, for example, control the state of the actuator 50via ultrasound (for example, via a piezo tweeter operating throughglass); via a scanner coil protocol (for example, GE/Siemens scannerscomprise approximately 85% of the axial market and include two 15 voltconnections); via microwave energy (for example, a glass smart link);via a mechanical or cable link (for example, via camera-type cable linkusing a plastic cable); via infrared light; via fiber optic cable; viapneumatic power; via hydraulic power; via patient operation; via voiceactivation; via movement of a table upon which a patient is positioned;via time delay; via an RF gradient trigger from scanner (for example,5th shim tune); via a photo cell; via optical light control; via linepower (for example, via audio frequency through panel); via an RF link,or via operator manual control (that is, sending the operator into theMRI room to activate the device).

For use in an MR environment, the components of the injection device 10are desirably fabricated from materials that are non-magnetic,non-ferrous, and/or otherwise suitable or compatible for use in an MRIenvironment. In general, many devices, including but not limited to manyinjectors and infusion pumps, that contain electric actuators such as DCbrush motors, step motors, brushless DC motors, or other wound coilmotors and solenoids, often fail in a strong magnetic field as a resultof damage to internal permanent magnets. Moreover, currents inducedwithin the field windings of such devices from electromagnetic fieldscan cause overheating and potential damage to the windings and anyconnected electronic circuitry. The MRI magnetic field can alsointerfere with the device-created magnetic field and prevent accurateoperation.

Furthermore, differences in magnetic permeability of materials withinthe actuator and eddy currents induced within actuator windings canaffect the homogeneity or uniformity of the MRI magnetic field,generating image artifacts. Actuators that use mechanical commutation,such as DC brush motors, can also generate radio frequency energy duringswitching, which can induce unwanted artifacts upon the acquired MRIimages.

With reference to FIGS. 2A-2C and with continued reference to FIG. 1 ,the injection device 10 is desirably provided as a prepackaged systemthat is autoclaved sterilized. The injection device 10 includes an MRcontrast vial 100 (as the fluid-filled cartridge) having a septum sealedoutlet 102. The injection device 10 also includes a syringe 104 having asubstantially cylindrical syringe barrel 106 an open end 108 and a fluiddispensing end 110; and a plunger rod 111 configured to be receivedwithin the open end 108 of the syringe barrel 106. As discussed ingreater detail hereinafter, the cylindrical syringe barrel 106 isdivided into a delivery chamber 112 and a vacuum drive chamber 114.Desirably, the delivery chamber 112 may have a first diameter and thevacuum drive chamber 114 may have a second diameter that is greater thanthe first diameter as shown in FIGS. 2A-2C; however, this is not to beconstrued as limiting the present invention as both chambers may havethe same diameter.

The plunger rod 111 includes: a first end 116 having a sealing member,such as O-ring 118, provided in sealing engagement with an inner wall120 of the syringe barrel 106 to form the delivery chamber 112 betweenthe first end 116 of the plunger rod 111 and the fluid dispensing end110 of the syringe barrel 106; and a second end 122 extending out ofopen end 108 of the syringe barrel 106. The second end 122 of theplunger rod 111 has a vial-receiving chamber 124 formed therein. Aconnection mechanism, such as a spike 126, is positioned within thevial-receiving chamber 124 for connecting the outlet 102 of the vial 100thereto. In the prepackaged system described hereinabove, the vial 100is provided in the vial-receiving chamber 124 during the manufacturingprocess and a flexible seal 128 is positioned over the second end 122 ofthe plunger rod 111 to maintain sterility of the contrast provided inthe vial 100. In operation, a user engages the outlet 102 of the vial100 with the spike 126 by applying pressure to the flexible seal 128.However, this is not to be construed as limiting the present inventionas the vial 100 and the syringe/plunger rod combination may be providedas separate components with the second end 122 of the plunger rod 111having an opening to allow the user to position a vial 100 within thevial-receiving chamber 124.

The plunger rod 111 further includes an intermediate sealing member 130in sealing engagement with the inner wall 120 of the syringe barrel 106.The intermediate sealing member 130 is positioned between the first end116 and the second end 122 of the plunger rod 111 such that the vacuumdrive chamber 114 is provided between the intermediate sealing member130 and the first end 116 of the plunger rod 111. In addition, if thevacuum drive chamber 114 and the delivery chamber 112 are provided withdifferent diameters as discussed hereinabove and shown in FIGS. 2A-2C,then the first end 116 of the plunger rod 111 may be provided with adifferent diameter than the intermediate sealing member 130 and secondend 122 of the plunger rod 111 as shown in FIGS. 2A-2C.

The plunger rod 111 also includes: a fluid channel 132 extending fromthe spike 126 to the first end 116 of the plunger rod 111; and a one-waycheck valve 134 positioned at the first end 116 of the plunger rod 111.While the plunger rod is disclosed herein as including a one-way checkvalve 134 positioned at the first end 116 of the plunger rod 111, thisis not to be construed as limiting the present invention as the valve134 may be positioned anywhere along the length of the channel 132. Inaddition, rather than utilizing a one-way check valve, a stopcock, aspring-loaded valve, or any other suitable valve may be utilized.

In addition, the fluid delivery device 10 includes an actuator 50, asdiscussed hereinabove, connected to the fluid dispensing end 110 of thesyringe barrel 106. Desirably, the actuator 50 is a normally closedvalve that may be manually operated or operated remotely via acontroller 70 and remote controller 71.

In operation, fluid is dispensed from the vial 100 by connecting theoutlet 102 thereof to the spike 126 by either applying force to theflexible seal 128 for the prepackaged system as discussed hereinabove orby positioning the vial 100 manually into the vial-receiving chamber 124and engaging the outlet 102 thereof with the spike 126. This positionsthe outlet 102 of the vial 100 in fluid communication with fluid channel132. Next, the second end 122 of the plunger rod 111 is pulled back inthe direction of arrow A₁ to form a vacuum within the vacuum drivechamber 114. Due to the one-way check valve 134 at the first end 116 ofthe plunger rod 111 and the fluid channel 132 extending through thevacuum drive chamber 114 to the spike 126, the fluid from the vial 100is drawn (by the vacuum) from the vial 100 into the delivery chamber 112as shown by arrow A₂. Also, since the one-way check valve 134 ispositioned at the first end 116 of the plunger rod 111 and the actuator50 embodied as a normally closed valve positioned at the fluiddispensing end 110 of the syringe barrel 106, the device stays charged(due to the vacuum in the vacuum drive chamber 114) and does not deliverthe fluid in the delivery chamber 112 until the actuator 50 is switched.At this point, the operator switches the actuator 50 (e.g., by openingthe normally closed valve) from a first state in which fluid isprevented from flowing through the fluid dispensing end 110 of thesyringe barrel 106 to a second state causing the plunger rod 111 to movein the direction of arrow A₃ to force the fluid within the deliverychamber 112 out of the fluid dispensing end 110.

Furthermore, two or more of injection device 10 described hereinabovecan be “ganged together” with appropriate fluid path sets (not shown) todeliver multiple fluids to a patient (e.g., contrast followed by saline,stress agent followed by contrast followed by saline, etc.).

While the fluid-filled cartridge 40 has been described hereinabove as acontrast vial 100, this is not to be construed as limiting the presentinvention as any suitable fluid delivery device may be utilized. Forinstance, a syringe (not shown) may be utilized. In such an instance,the connection mechanism may be embodied as a female luer connector (notshown) instead of a spike 126.

With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, an alternative embodiment of aninjection device 200 includes: a syringe 202, a drive mechanism 204, andan actuator 50. The syringe 202 includes a substantially cylindricalsyringe barrel 206 having a fluid dispensing end 208 and an open end 210and a plunger 212 configured to be received within the open end 210 ofthe syringe barrel 206.

The drive mechanism 204 includes a substantially cylindrical body 214having a movable member 216 positioned therein to form a chamber 218between the movable member 216 and a substantially closed first end 220of the cylindrical body 214. The movable member 216 includes a seal 222which extends around a circumference thereof to fluidly isolate thechamber 218 from a second end of the cylindrical body 214.

The drive mechanism 204 also includes a plunger rod 224 connected to afirst side 226 of the movable member 216 and extends through the firstend 220 of the body 214. A seal 228 is provided between the first end220 and the plunger rod 224 to prevent fluid from leaving thecylindrical body 214. The plunger rod 224 is configured to operativelyengage a rear end 230 of the plunger 212 through a threaded or othertype of connection. The drive mechanism 204 further includes a lockingmechanism 232 configured to secure the open end 210 of the syringe 202to the substantially closed first end 220 of the body 214. The drivemechanism 204 may be embodied as a disposable device where the lockingmechanism 232 locks the syringe 202 onto the body 214 such that itcannot be removed.

In addition, the fluid delivery device 200 includes an actuator 50, asdiscussed hereinabove, connected to the fluid dispensing end 208 of thesyringe barrel 206. Desirably, the actuator 50 is a normally closedvalve that may be manually operated or operated remotely via acontroller 70 and remote controller 71.

In operation, fluid is dispensed from the syringe 202 by connecting thesyringe 202 to the plunger rod 224 by threadedly connecting a first endof the plunger rod 224 to the plunger 212. Thereafter, the open end 210of the syringe 202 is forced into the locking mechanism 232 by movingthe syringe 202 in the direction of arrow B₁, thereby moving the movablemember 216 towards the second end of the cylindrical body 214 whichforms a vacuum within the chamber 218. At this point, the operatorswitches the actuator 50 (e.g., by opening the normally closed valve)from a first state in which fluid is prevented from flowing through thefluid dispensing end 208 of the syringe barrel 206 to a second statecausing the movable member 216, the plunger rod 224, and the plunger 212to move in the direction of arrow B₂ to force the fluid within thesyringe 202 out of the fluid dispensing end 208.

The syringe 202 for the injection fluid (generally an MR contrast fluid)can, for example, be a polymeric or glass MR syringe available, forexample, from Bayer HealthCare LLC of Indianola, Pa. Such syringes canbe purchased “prefilled” with injection fluid or can be purchased emptyand filled at the MRI site. The fluid in such syringes is pressurizedvia the plunger 212, which is slidably disposed within the syringebarrel 206.

With reference to FIGS. 4A-4C, another alternative embodiment of theinjection device 300 is illustrated. The injection device 300 isdesirably provided as a prepackaged system that is sterilized. Theinjection device 300 includes an MR contrast vial 301 (as thefluid-filled cartridge) having a septum sealed outlet 302. The injectiondevice 300 also includes a syringe 304 having a substantiallycylindrical syringe barrel 306 that includes a fluid receiving end(i.e., open end 308) and a fluid dispensing end 310 and a plunger rod311 configured to be received within the open end 308 of the syringebarrel 306. As discussed in greater detail hereinafter, the cylindricalsyringe barrel 306 is divided into a delivery chamber 312 (in FIGS.4A-4C the plunger rod is positioned within the deliver chamber) and avacuum drive chamber 314. Desirably, the delivery chamber may have afirst diameter and the vacuum drive chamber 314 may have a seconddiameter that is greater than the first diameter as shown in FIGS.4A-4C; however, this is not to be construed as limiting the presentinvention as both chambers may have the same diameter. In addition,while the injection device 300 is described hereinabove, this is not tobe construed as limiting the present invention as any suitable fluidcontainer may be utilized.

The plunger rod 311 includes: a first end 316 having a sealing member,such as O-ring 318, provided in sealing engagement with an inner wall ofthe syringe barrel 306 to form the delivery chamber 312 between thefirst end 316 of the plunger rod 311 and the fluid dispensing end 310 ofthe syringe barrel 306; and a second end 322 extending out of open end308 of the syringe barrel 306. The second end 322 of the plunger rod 311has a connection mechanism, such as a spike 323, extending therefrom andcomprising a fluid path extending from a first end 324 of the spike 323to a second end 325 of the spike 323 in fluid communication with thedelivery chamber 312 of the syringe 304. A compressible member 326extends from the outlet 302 of the vial 301 to the open end 308 of thesyringe barrel 306 and surrounds at least the first end 324 of the spike323. A removable retention mechanism 327 is positioned between theoutlet 302 of the vial 301 and the open end 308 of the syringe barrel306 over the compressible member to prevent the outlet 302 of the vial301 from contacting the spike 323.

In operation, a user removes the retention mechanism in the direction ofarrow C₁ as shown in FIG. 4B. A user then engages the outlet 302 of thevial 301 with the spike 323 by applying pressure to the vial 301 in thedirection of arrow C₂ as shown in FIG. 4C, thereby compressing thecompressible member 326.

The plunger rod 311 further includes an intermediate sealing member 330in sealing engagement with the inner wall of the syringe barrel 306. Theintermediate sealing member 330 is positioned between the first end 316and the second end 322 of the plunger rod 311 such that the vacuum drivechamber 314 is provided between the intermediate sealing member 330 andthe first end 316 of the plunger rod 311. In addition, if the vacuumdrive chamber 314 and the delivery chamber 312 are provided withdifferent diameters as discussed hereinabove and shown in FIGS. 4A-4C,then the first end 316 of the plunger rod 311 may be provided with adifferent diameter than the intermediate sealing member 330 and secondend 322 of the plunger rod 311 as shown in FIGS. 4A-4C.

The plunger rod 311 also includes: a fluid channel 332 extending fromthe second end 325 of the spike 323 to the first end 316 of the plungerrod 311; and a one-way check valve positioned at the first end 316 ofthe plunger rod 311.

In addition, the injection device 300 includes an actuator 50, asdiscussed hereinabove, connected to the fluid dispensing end 310 of thesyringe barrel 306. Desirably, the actuator 50 is a normally closedvalve that may be manually operated or operated remotely via acontroller 70 and remote controller 71.

In operation, fluid is dispensed from the vial 301 by connecting theoutlet 302 thereof to the spike 323 as discussed hereinabove. Thispositions the outlet 302 of the vial 301 in fluid communication withfluid channel 332. Next, the injection device 300 is operated in thesame manner as the injection device 10 as discussed in detailhereinabove.

Desirably, the injection devices discussed hereinabove are suitable tobe placed within one foot of the MRI bore. More desirably, the injectiondevices of the present disclosure are suitable to be placed within thebore, thereby providing close access to the injection site on thepatient and eliminating lengthy connective tubing used with manycurrently available injection devices. In general, to be “MR compatible”as that phrase is used herein, the materials of injection device 10,injection device 200, and injection device 300 should not interfere withthe operation of an MR scanner in a substantial manner (for example, tocause image artifacts). Additionally, the MR environment (for example,the powerful magnetic field) should not substantially interfere with theoperation of the injection device 10, injection device 200, andinjection device 300. Examples of suitable MRI compatible materials forinjection device 10, injection device 200, and injection device 300include, but are not limited to, polymeric materials, glass materials,and aluminum.

While specific embodiments of the device of the present disclosure havebeen described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in theart that various modifications and alternatives to those details couldbe developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure.Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to beillustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the device of thepresent disclosure which is to be given the full breadth of the claimsappended and any and all equivalents thereof.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A fluid delivery device comprising: afluid-filled cartridge comprising an outlet; a syringe comprising asubstantially cylindrical syringe barrel having an open end and a fluiddispensing end; a plunger rod configured to be received within the openend of the syringe barrel, the plunger rod comprising: a first endhaving a sealing member provided in sealing engagement with an innerwall of the syringe barrel such that a first syringe chamber is providedbetween the first end of the plunger rod and the fluid dispensing end ofthe syringe barrel; a second end extending out of the open end of thesyringe barrel and having a cartridge-receiving chamber having aconnection mechanism positioned therein for connecting the outlet of thecartridge thereto; an intermediate sealing member in sealing engagementwith the inner wall of the syringe barrel, the intermediate sealingmember positioned between the first end and the second end of theplunger rod such that a second syringe chamber is provided between theintermediate sealing member and the first end of the plunger rod; and afluid channel extending from the connection mechanism to the first endof the plunger rod; and an actuator connected to the fluid dispensingend of the syringe barrel, wherein fluid is dispensed from the cartridgeby connecting the outlet of the cartridge to the connection mechanism,thereby providing the cartridge in fluid communication with the fluidchannel, forming a vacuum within the second syringe chamber by enlarginga volume of the second syringe chamber by pulling the second end of theplunger rod away from the open end of the syringe barrel which moves theintermediate sealing member closer to the open end of the cylindricalbarrel, thereby drawing fluid from the cartridge through the fluidchannel and into the first syringe chamber, and switching the actuatorfrom a first state in which fluid is prevented from flowing through thefluid dispensing end of the syringe to a second state to allow the fluidto flow through the fluid dispensing end.
 2. The fluid delivery deviceof claim 1, wherein the fluid-filled cartridge is a vial and theconnection mechanism is a spike.
 3. The fluid delivery device of claim2, wherein the vial is positioned within the cartridge receivingchamber, a flexible seal is positioned over the second end, and the vialis engaged with the spike by pressing the flexible seal.
 4. The fluiddelivery device of claim 1, wherein the fluid-filled cartridge is asyringe and the connection mechanism is a female luer connector.
 5. Thefluid delivery device of claim 1, wherein the first syringe chamber hasa first diameter and the second syringe chamber has a second diameterthat is greater than the first diameter.
 6. The fluid delivery device ofclaim 1, wherein a mechanism of the actuator comprises a rotary valve, apinch valve with tubing, a ratchet valve, a fusible link, a trumpetvalve, a port closing valve, a pump system, or a drive system.
 7. Thefluid delivery device of claim 1, further comprising a controllerconfigured to remotely control the state of the actuator.
 8. The fluiddelivery device of claim 7, wherein the controller controls the state ofthe actuator via ultrasound, via a protocol of an imaging scanner, viamicrowave energy, via a mechanical link, via infrared light, via fiberoptic cable, via pneumatic power, via hydraulic power, via voiceactivation, via movement of a scanner table, via time delay, via an RFgradient trigger from a scanner, via a photo cell, via optical light,via an RF signal, or via line power.
 9. The fluid delivery device ofclaim 1, wherein the fluid-filled cartridge, the syringe, the plungerrod, and the actuator are MR compatible, thereby making the devicesuitable for use in or near a bore of an MR scanner.
 10. The fluiddelivery device of claim 1, wherein the plunger rod further comprises avalve positioned along the fluid channel of thereof.
 11. The fluiddelivery device of claim 10, where the valve is one of a one-way checkvalve, a stopcock, and a spring-loaded valve.